Page 44 of Chief's Addiction

I opened my mouth then snapped it shut. That never even occurred to me.

“So we’re going to give him the choice to decide what he wants. You may not like it, baby, but if he wants to go somewhere else, I’ll make some calls and see what I can do. But, if he wants to stay, we figure that out too.”

I stared at my man, a wave of emotion I’d never felt before washing over me. “Just like that? You’d let him stay here?”

He shrugged his shoulders as if taking in a homeless teenager was no big deal. “Kid needs somewhere safe to crash. I’ve got the room.”

Fueled by the overwhelming need to be close to him, I closed the distance between us and wrapped my arms around his waist, pressing my cheek to his chest. “You’re a good man, Mason Sosa.”

His arms came around me, one hand sliding up to lift my chin. “Don’t go spreading that around. You’ll ruin my street cred.”

I smiled up at him. “Your secret’s safe with me.”

With a grin on his face, he lowered his head, capturing my lips. My fingers curled into his shirt as he deepened the kiss, his tongue sweeping against mine. I leaned deeper into him, my body instantly responding to his touch.

I was falling hard and so fast.

The sound of a throat clearing had me pulling back. Doc was standing in the doorway with a grin on his face, and Beckett was a step behind him.

“Well,” Doc said, his eyes twinkling, “I see the patient isn’t the only one who needed some attention.”

My cheeks burned as I stepped away from Mason, who looked completely unrepentant.

“How is he?” He jerked his chin at Beck.

Doc glanced back at his patient. “The black eye’s going to be nasty for a week or more and he’s got some bruised ribs, but nothing’s broken. I’ve left some anti-inflammatory meds and an arnica gel for the bruising. Overall, I’m sure it hurts, but he’ll survive.”

“Thanks for coming by, Doc.” Mason reached out and shook his hand.

“Anytime,” Doc said, before turning his warm smile on me. “It was really nice to meet you, young lady. Keep this one in line, will you?”

I laughed softly. “I’ll do my best.”

After Doc left, Mason called Beckett over and had him take a seat on the couch. Once Beck sat, I dropped down beside him.

“How long has this shit been going on?” Mason asked, cutting right to the chase.

Beckett stared at his hands. “Since I got placed with them. About sixteen months.”

“Has it always been this bad?”

“No.” Beckett’s voice was barely audible. “It got worse when his wife left him six months ago. He started drinking more.”

Mason nodded, absorbing the information. “You want to go back there?”

Beckett’s head shot up. “No!”

“Didn’t think so.” Mason crossed his arms. “When do you turn eighteen?”

“In ten months—November 17th.”

Mason tipped his head, a funny look on his face as he mulled over the time until Beckett would legally be an adult. “What do you want in life, kid?”

Beckett’s brows wrinkled in the middle, clearly not understanding what Mason was getting at. “What?”

“What do you want to be? More importantly, who do you want to be?”

I watched as something broke inside this kid I’d come to care about and my heart sank. Beckett’s eyes filled with tears, one slipping down his cheek before he could wipe it away. “I don’t know,” he admitted, his voice cracking. “I never thought I’d...” He left the rest hanging, but we knew exactly what he meant. He never thought he’d make it out of the foster system alive.

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